More Belarusians opt for marriage contracts
In 2006, nearly 1000 couples in Minsk concluded marriage contracts, a proof that more Belarusians have displayed interest in a new form of noose.
Marriage contracts emerged for the first time in Belarus on September 1, 1999 when the Code on Marriage and Family was introduced. However, there was no big demand for them back then.
Tacciana Satcanka, the director of the notary office No 2 in Minsk, explains what could be stipulated in a marriage contract.
“It may stipulate procedures for the division of property in case of divorce. The contract might also contain provisions on the material assistance to a spouse. Additionally, a marriage contract could stipulate the forms, methods and financial matters associated with the raising of children, but only as regards the rights and obligations of parents, which are not to create additional rights and obligations to the children,” she told the European Radio for Belarus.
Not everything can be included into this document. For instance, demanding for compensation in case of adultery could not be stipulated. The elements of the last will and the use of property in case of the death of one of the spouses shall not be approved by notaries.
Spouses will be unable to try to ban his (her) second half from working, either. In this case, this is treated as a violation of the right to be employed. It is equally impossible to reduce the amount of aliments below the nationally approved living wage. The increase in aliments above the living wage is definitely allowed.
Couples have an option of signing their marriage contract either before or after the wedding ceremony. But the contract will become effective only after the marriage has been officially registered. The contract can still be signed even if a divorce application has already been filed. The underage couple can sign it, but on condition of consent of their parents.
Concerning the term of a marriage contract, we again ask Tacciana Satcanka:
“It is concluded for an indefinite term, but it can be amended or supplemented by spouses by their mutual consent before divorce,” she said.
A marriage contract can even assist you in saving money. You will pay Br93,000 to a notary officer when singing the contract. But when you are to divide the property after divorce, fees will amount to 10 percent of the total property cost. Imagine if the property includes several apartments, then you end up facing a huge amount.
Sometimes, there are funny cases associated with the people signing their marriage contracts, according to Natallia Zukava, the director of the notary office No 1 in Minsk.
Recently, one of the customers wished to make a contract, stipulating that he was ready to give up their apartment to his wife. In turn, she was obliged to pay out all the money that her husband spent on her for 25 years of marriage, including the money for her travel to holiday resorts!
What is the stance of celebrities to this issue? It is no secret that the stars in the West regularly make marriage contracts. But the local celebrities have turned out to be more conservative. In the view of Alex, the frontman of the Belarusian band Atlantica, men must always remain men. If problems in marriage arise, he should give up.
“I think that marriage is a very responsible thing in our life. We should not confuse material things with our feelings. These are totally different things. It is their private business to sign marriage contracts. But it looks like some kind of reinsurance – not the feelings – to me.
My understanding is that men should remain men… In my view, the man should give up in this case,” Alex said.
Photo by www.acoustics.washington.edu
